The Philadelphia 76ers hit a bump, then drove into a pothole, and now they’re trying to make sure they don’t end up in a ditch on the side of the road. The 76ers’ 3-0 series lead against Toronto has narrowed to 3-2, and Philadelphia has to find a way to win Thursday to avoid a Game 7.
Philadelphia, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, is still -650 at FanDuel to win the best-of-7 series against No. 5 Toronto (+480), and the 76ers are slight favorites to get the job done on the road in Game 6.
Props.com grabs insights from multiple oddsmakers on NBA playoff odds for 76ers vs. Raptors Game 6. Check back for updates through Thursday’s tipoff.
NBA Playoff Odds and Betting Action
No. 4 Philadelphia 76ers vs No. 5 Toronto Raptors (7 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 6 P.M. ET THURSDAY: The 76ers opened as 1.5-point favorites at WynnBet and have stayed there, despite 68% of bets and 66% of money on Philadelphia. The total opened at 209 and jumped to 210.5 before moving back down to 209.5, with nearly even splits: 51% of bets on the Over but 54% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: It’s all gone downhill for the 76ers since Joel Embiid hit a last-second 3-pointer to win Game 3 and give Philadelphia a 3-0 lead. After the game, Embiid was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right thumb that will require surgery, and though he is playing through the injury, he has admitted that it is bothering him.
Toronto won Game 4 110-102 at home, then went to Philadelphia and took Game 5 even more decisively, prevailing 103-88 as an 8.5-point underdog. The game also marked the fourth straight Under in the series after Game 1 went Over. The Raptors have started to look like the team that was 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS against the 76ers in the regular season before Philadelphia won and covered the first three games of the series.
Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 23 points in Game 5. Embiid had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and 76ers guard James Harden had 15 points. Harden, the former league MVP and Philadelphia’s big acquisition at the trade deadline, has scored more than 20 points in only two games this series (22 twice).
Now all the demons are creeping in for Philadelphia. Coach Doc Rivers is the only coach to blow three 3-1 series leads – actually the only one to even blow two — and he would become the first to lose a 3-0 lead if the 76ers collapse. Philadelphia is also trying to erase the bad memories of last season, when the 76ers were the No. 1 seed but lost Games 5 and 7 at home to fall to Atlanta in the conference semifinals.
Toronto starting guard Fred VanVleet is doubtful for Game 6 with a hip injury, but the Raptors won Game 5 without him. Philadelphia will again be without top perimeter defender Matisse Thybulle, who is ineligible to play in the games in Canada because he is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Thybulle had two points in 14 minutes in Game 5 in Philadelphia.
The 76ers opened as 1-point favorites for Game 6 at TwinSpires and have moved to -1.5, with 58% of bets on the Raptors but 63% of money on Philadelphia. “Sharp play on the 76ers -1,” Zachary Lucas, director of retail sports, said via email. The total opened at 209.5 and is up to 210.5, with 57% of bets and 75% of money on the Over.